SNEAK PREVIEW: Movies opening this week

Mark Wahlberg takes over for Shia LaBeouf as the human face of director Michael Bay’s increasingly mechanical films about cars that turn into erector sets. Think of it as music for tin ears.

WHITEY: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER

With his three “Paradise Lost” movies, director Joe Berlinger helped set the innocent free. Now he turns his camera on the undeniably guilty with his profile of Boston mobster Whitey Bulger and the federal agents and agencies who abetted him.

GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA

Director Nicholas Wrathall profiles the late author/activist through a series of one-on-one interviews, archival clips and commentary by the people who knew him best.

THE INTERNET'S OWN BOY: THE STORY OF AARON SWARTZ

Why would a 26-year-old Internet genius kill himself? Director Brian Knappenberger attempts to find out, as he digs deep into Swartz’s battle with the feds over information access.